Loose-leaf binder.



PAITENTED MAY 23, 1905.

G. McBRIDB. LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,382, dated May 23, 1905.

4 Application filed July 22, 1903. Serial No. 166,541.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GLENN MoBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goldengate, in the county of Alameda and'State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements made in devices for temporarily binding or holding together loose sheets of paper, such as the leaves of account-books and memorandumbooks, in such manner that any leaf or several leaves can be separated and removed from the binding means or shifted to a different part of the book and new leaves added without disturbing the remaining leaves.

The said improvement comprises a hinged file in two parts, each carrying one member or section of a number of impaling prongs or wires, the remaining members or sections of which are secured to the hinged member, combinedwith an opening and closing means, the construction of which constitutes the novel feature of the invention.

The nature of the said improvement and the manner in which I proceed to construct, apply, and carry out the same are set forth in the following description, in which the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, are referred to by letters.

Figure 1 of the said drawings represents a detachable-leaf account-book having my improvement fixed to the back, the leaves being broken away at a point directly over the back to expose parts beneath. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the binder separate from the covers and leaves and showing the two sections closed. Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts as they are shown in Fig. 1. Fig. i is a perspective view of a portion of the binder from that end where the opening and closing means are located, showing the two sections opened.

The two members or sections A B, constructed of stiff plates and lying together edge to edge in the same plane, are attached together along the adjacent inner edges by hinge-joints D. These are placed at intervals apart and connecting one plate to the other at a sufficient number of points in their length to keep 7 them to fold back out of a common plane on opposite sides of the line of the hinge. At intervals apart on the hinged member A are fixed a number of prongs or stiff wires E, standing at right angles to the top or upper face of the member, and on the corresponding face of thehinged member B are fixed in similar manner and position a like number of prongs or wires F, of the same character and quality as the prongs E, excepting that they are longer and are bent over or formed in a curve that turns the end of the prong downward upon and in line with the end of the opposite member E. The two parts meeting in this manner form a continuous arch joining the two shanks E F together when the two sections A B lie in the same plane. In this position the binder is closed and the leavesare held and confined on the arches, but with all requisite looseness and freedom for turning over the leaves and for opening and closing the book. The means for turning the two strips on their hinges to open and close the binder is a novel part of this invention, and the same is applied to and situated on that end of the binder where it may be more convenient to reach and operate it. This part of the binder is formed by twisting or bending the two hinged strips for a portion of their length at the same end, as from a to F, in contrary direction, with a gradually-increasing change of angle, producing a warped or twisted surface on the outer portion of each strip which at the outer end pitches downward and inward with respect to the plane of the main portion or body of the strip. The ends of the two strips are thus bent at the same angle, but in contrarydirections to each other, so that a flattened loop or band Gr, embracing and fitted to slide upon both twisted portions, will produce angular movement of the strips on their hinges. The loop is fitted to slide on and also to embrace the strips so tightly that the two strips will be bent out of the same plane at opposing angles on the hinge-joint as the loop is drawn outward to the ends of the twisted portions, or by the movement in a contrary direction the slideiwill bring the two strips back to their normal position to lie fiat, thus opening the arches in the outward movement of the slide and closing them as the slide is pressed back to place.

The slide G is formed of metal strips having suflicient stiffness to retain the flat shape of the slide under the angular strains or tension thrown upon it, and provision is made for taking up wear and loose motion of the slide by forming it of a top plate and a bottom plate g and securing them together by one or more screws h, passing through the space z between the two twisted members of the strips. The two parts G can be drawn more closely together by tightening the screws. Stopsls on the outer end of the strips regulate the throw of the slide and prevent it from being drawn off or separated from the ends of the strips. When the slide G is pressed in, its finger-piece Gr should lie flush with the face of the binding of the book, and all the parts of the binder likewise should be covered and concealed from View, except the arches or prongs that receive and hold the leaves.

The opening and closing means can be pro vided on both ends of the hinged strips, if desired, particularly on larger and heavier styles in which the binder may be constructed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A loose-leaf binder comprisinga divided back formed of rigid strips connected together along the adjacent edges by hingejoints, impaling-arches comprising two prongs adapted to meet together at the ends in a continuous arch when closed, said prongs being secured to the two strips on opposite sides of the hinge-joint, a twisted end portion on each strip having corresponding degrees of angularity but standing normally at opposing angles, and a reciprocating loop on said twisted end portions adapted to embrace the said twisted portions and by a longitudinal movement thereon to produce angular movement of the strips on their hinges.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of rigid strips, hinges uniting the same together, impaling -prongs composed of two members secured to the strips on opposite sides of the line of the hinges, twisted portions on the ends of the hinged strips having oppositely-inclined surfaces standing at opposing angles and in different planes to the untwisted portions of the strips, and a slide embracing and movable longitudinally on said twisted portions.

3. In a loose-leaf binder the combination with hinged strips carrying impaling-prongs and adapted by angular movements on the hinge to open and close the impaling prongs; of means for moving the hinged strips into and out of angular position, comprising twisted portions on the adjacent ends of said strips standing normally at opposing angles and out of the plane of the strips, aslidable loop embracing and movable longitudinally on the twisted portions, and a stop for controlling the longitudinal movement of the loop.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name to this specification in the presence 01 two subscribing witnesses,

GLENN MoBltl DIG.

Witnesses:

EDwARD E. OSBORN, M. REGNER. 

